Strong Finish Helps Dublin Senior Footballers to a Win over Monaghan

DUBLIN 1-18 

MONAGHAN 0-17

Dublin picked up the first win of their Allianz National Football League Division 1 campaign as they overcame Monaghan by four points at Croke Park on Saturday evening. 

Having lost their opening two matches to Donegal and Mayo, the Dubs were in need of a morale-boosting win and it duly arrived as Joe Quigley marked his league debut with a cracking goal into the Hill16 end. 

There was little to separate the teams in a largely forgettable first-half as Hugh O’Sullivan made a couple of fine stops to ensure a 0-7 apiece stalemate by the break.

The visitors pushed four points clear at one stage in the second-half but two O’Callaghan two-pointers and Quigley’s goal allowed the Dubs to ease home with a degree of comfort. 

Both teams took their time to settle with the hosts eventually opening the scoring through Ciaran Kilkenny in the 4th minute before Ryan McAnespie levelled for Monaghan two minutes later. 

Dublin enjoyed an early monopoly on possession but failed to avail of the chances that came their way despite Con O’Callaghan edging them back in front through a ‘45’. 

A cracking Micheál Bannigan point restored parity in the 11th minute before the returning Ross McGarry was terribly unfortunate to see his powerful shot at the opposite end cannon to safety off the crossbar.

Oisin McGorman and O’Callaghan (free) traded points as the contest evolved with Bannigan adding another smart score to edge his team in front at the start of the second quarter. 

The hosts were indebted to goalkeeper O’Sullivan, who saved well from Stephen O’Hanlon in the 19th minute before making another excellent intervention to deny both McAnespie and McGorman, as Monaghan gained some reward for some pressure through a Dessie Ward two-pointer. 

In the interim, both Luke Breathnach and Kilkenny added points for Dublin before Nathan Doran restored the home lead after a well-timed run from deep in the 29th minute. 

Chances continued to come and go at both ends with a point three minutes before half-time from Aaron Carey leaving the contest delicately poised at the interval. 

Ward made another positive venture from centre-back as he edged Monaghan back ahead within three minutes of the restart and he took his personal tally to four points when bursting through soon after. 

While O’Callaghan (free) halved the Dublin deficit, the visitors found themselves four points clear by the 47th minute courtesy of scores from Rory Beggan (’45), Carey and Andrew Woods. 

The hosts gradually kicked into gear by the end of the third quarter as Paddy Small and McGarry clipped over scores and a two-pointed strike from O’Callaghan brought the teams back on level terms in the 51st minute.  

Bugler, via the crossbar, edged the Dubs in front three minutes later but back came the visitors with an excellent Ryan Wylie score preceding a two-pointed free from Beggan with ten minutes remaining. 

O’Callaghan stepped up once again another sublime two-pointer off his left before the momentum turned completely as Quigley arrived at the back post to fire a rising shot beyond Beggan from ten yards. 

From that juncture, Dublin controlled the contest with late, insurance points from Bugler and Greg McEneaney greeted with a mixture of relief and satisfaction by the final whistle.    

Scorers – Dublin: C O’Callaghan 0-8 (2 P2, 2f, 1 ’45); S Bugler 0-3; J Quigley 1-0; C Kilkenny 0-2; N Doran, R McGarry, L Breathnach, P Small, G McEneaney 0-1 apiece. Monaghan: D Ward 0-4 (1 P2); R Beggan (1 F2, 1 ’45), M Bannigan (1f), A Carey 0-3 each; R Wylie, A Woods, R McAnespie, O McGorman 0-1 apiece. 

Dublin: H O’Sullivan; E Murchan, N Doran, D Byrne; N Scully, C McMorrow, A Gavin; B Howard, C Kilkenny; L Breathnach, S Bugler, R McGarry; P Small, C O’Callaghan, L O’Dell. Subs: P Ó Cofaigh Byrne for Breathnach (47), G McEneaney for McMorrow (49), K McGinnis for McGarry (51), J Quigley for O’Dell (56), N O’Callaghan for Kilkenny (62). 

Monaghan: R Beggan; D McElearney, R O’Toole, C Dowd; R Wylie, D Ward, A Carey; M McCarville, G Mohan; K Gallagher, M Bannigan, S O’Hanlon; R McAnespie, A Woods, O McGorman. Subs: F Carolan for McAnespie (31), L McDonald for Gallagher (53), E Walsh for Woods (59), D Treanor for McGorman (67).      

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).